Aldi Nord and Sud

Sales at Germany-based grocery retailers Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd sales rose 2.5 per cent during the first half of 2010, according to company insiders quoted in the country's top grocery retail weekly Lebensmittel Zeitung.

The leak follows recent reports based on market research data which suggested sales through the discounters had fallen by almost 4 per cent during the six-month period.

Aldi did not confirm the numbers, but said it would record “positive developments in sales and shopping frequency”.

Leading sector analyst Planet Retail reports that Aldi is working on strengthening its quality message, in order to counter its full-range competitors’ focus on matching Aldi on price by developing economy private label lines.

“Competitors are wangling the quality of some products, such as coffee, to match our prices,” an Aldi manager was reported as saying.

Meanwhile, the company has further extended its promotional activities in the Swiss market, according to Planet Retail.

Aldi Süd has launched a three-day promotion in the country called Prix Explosifs / Aldi Preis-Kracher, featuring a handful of fresh products including fruit and vegetables at extremely competitive prices from Thursdays to Saturdays.